Yoicks. Last Sunday the NYT reported that TV defense analysts have undisclosed ties to the Pentagon. Despite the major media mostly ignoring the story the Pentagon announced this Friday that they will stop these private briefings effective immediately. Even given the media’s overall pass on the story, someone still seems a bit worried about it.
The Pentagon announced on Friday that it was suspending its briefings for retired military officers who often appear as military analysts on television and radio programs.
[…] A Pentagon spokesman said the decision to halt the briefings, which was first reported on Friday by Stars and Stripes, was made by Robert Hastings, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs.The decision came amid criticism and questions from members of Congress.
Now where will these lobbyists and consultants get their talking points on Iran? Bogus sound bites can have a short shelf life; if all the surrogates start freelancing there could be chaos. But heck, where there’s a will there’s a way.